National flag on broomstick, two bank employees suspended

Alappuzha (Kerala), Aug 16 (IANS) Two employees of a district cooperative bank here were suspended late Friday evening by State Cooperation Minister G. Sudhakaran for putting up the national flag on a broomstick in the bank premises. “I have asked the police to arrest the manager and the person who did this. The special branch police who did not do their job after this was discovered would also be proceeded against,” said Sudhakaran after visiting the bank late Friday evening.

The incident that shocked many took place at the Ambalapuzha branch of the Alappuzha District Cooperative Bank.

The peon had taken the long broom which is used to wipe the ceiling, tied the tri-colour to one end and put it up in front of the bank.

Hours later, local residents alerted the bank officials. Sudhakaran, who is the legislator from Ambalapuzha, learnt about it and went to the bank. He asked the authorities concerned to suspend the bank manager and the peon.

He said: “This is a clear case of showing disrespect to the tricolour and hence those responsible for this will have to be penalised.”